Boeing plans to reveal that it is studying three new versions of the next-generation 737 at the Paris air show in June. They are the -900X stretch, a commercial version of the Boeing Business Jet, dubbed the -700X, and a Quick Change freighter.
The 737-900X, revealed exclusively in Flight International's 7-13 May issue, is aimed at first deliveries "around the end of 2000 or early 2001", says vice-president of product strategy and marketing, Mike Bair. He adds that the study is "very active". The timing of the programme is driven not so much by market demand as by sheer pressure on the Renton production line. "Even if we could develop it tomorrow, we still couldn't build it," says Bair.
The -900X is a stretched version of the 162-seat (two-class) -800 with seating for 18 more passengers in three extra rows. The fuselage would be stretched by around 2.4m with the insertion of two plugs forward and aft of the wing.
"It is focused mostly on carriers flying two-class scheduled services in Europe," says Bair, citing Irish flag carrier Aer Lingus as a possible candidate. "The exit limit doesn't change and we don't actually increase capacity. It will be low-density seating for 189."
Boeing is also planning to offer what amounts to an extended-range version of the 737 in the form of the -700X, a passenger version of the long-range business jet. The hybrid uses the stronger wing of the -800 and the shorter fuselage of the -700 to achieve ranges of more than 11,600km (6,300nm) as a business aircraft.
Even with a full passenger load, the aircraft is still expected to add another 1,600km to the range of the existing -700 says Bair
Boeing is also studying the development of a Quick Change (QC) cargo variant of the business jet which will have a large side cargo door. This will form the basis of the company's bid for the US Navy's C-9 replacement contract.
Source: Flight International